Wayde van Niekerk wins on return

OLYMPIC champion and 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk won his first race of the year as he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury.

Wayde van Niekerk

The South African, 27, first suffered the injury during a celebrity touch rugby match more than two years ago.

Van Niekerk, who suffered a further setback last year, returned to win a 100m race on grass at an unofficial university meet in Bloemfontein.

“It is good to be back running and I am satisfied with my time,” he said.

“Thanks again to everyone who has assisted in my recovery.”

Van Niekerk broke the Olympic and world 400m records set by American Michael Johnson in 1999 when he clocked 43.03 seconds at the Rio Games four years ago. But the knee ligament injury he suffered in October 2017 saw him miss the Commonwealth Games the following year.– bbc.com